Wii U GamePad 'distracting' for fighting games, says Tekken boss

Katsuhiro Harada says looking back and forth between screens in Tekken Tag Tournament 2 on Wii U is bothersome; GamePad instead to be used for "shortcuts."

The Wii U's tablet-like GamePad controller--in conjunction with a television set--is not a good fit for fighting games, Tekken series producer Katsuhiro Harada told Eurogamer in an interview published today. Harada explained that when Tekken Tag Tournament 2 launches for the Wii U, the GamePad will likely be used for features not related to quickly glancing between two screens. Glancing between two screens in a fighting game is "distracting," says Harada.

"Looking at the small screen and the big screen at the same time is pretty distracting for a fighting game," Harada said. "So we're thinking of making [the GamePad] useful as a way of having shortcuts. Or, by making progressing through the game more convenient. Or by playing alone on the GamePad screen."

Tekken Tag Tournament 2 hit Japanese arcades last September and welcomed an update in February, which added new modes, such as one-versus-two matches and pair-play mode. It is due out for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 on September 11. For more on the fighting game, check out GameSpot's latest preview.

AKA, much like the Wii, the Wii U's gimiick may not work well with all genres. Anyone that had DS knows this. That's okay though, I wasn't buying fighting games on Wii U anyways (I am going where the fighting community and my fighting sticks are at).

My Wii U will be for high quality exclusives like Mario and Zelda...much like my Wii, Gamecube, and N64 were for.

The title of this article is very misleading as the GamePad seems distracting only if not used correctly. Like Harada said, I imagine to be troublesome looking back and forth between two screens in fighting games. At the same time, he acknowledges how the controller might be convenient for shortcuts and whatnot. Then, there's the new classic controller if you're not into the GamePad.

Could have health bar, timers, and camera options on the screen.Alternative tag mode where the second player is fighting simultaneously in the foreground or background (and does a dynamic leap when tagged).

Or simply have the characters move list on the screen which is the easy way out of commiting to the hardware (cross platform).

i would like the old games with multiple fighting planes to come back (and have a team mode so it's 2 vs 2 or 3 vs 3 all at once) i could see a Marvel VS capcom game try something like this or SNK to try king of fighters/Samurai showdown with something similiar.Linking moves with your team mates between screens (and online) would be crazy fun.

Also i look at the Wii U gamepad and i cannot help but think VIEWTIFUL JOE 3 (automatic Zoom all the time with the viewtiful touch from the DS game).

The reason this article exists is to bash on the Wii U, there is no other reason. It's taking a "matter of fact" quote from the developer and making a whole article about it with a negative tone. What the devs said wasn't negative, they just explained their thought process for establishing and deciding on the game's controls.

On a side note, everyone should realize that the Wii U Gamepad is near full proof in that it can not only provide the controls that we're used to, but more. It's truly a controller that can customize to any current gamers needs and also set a new standard at the same time. I don't know the Wii U Pro Controller even exists! Nintendo must have made it to shut ignorant people up, or have it to get for multiplayer games that don't wanna use Wii-motes, because the Gamepad has ALL THE SAME BUTTONS as the pro controller and then some.

Doesn't the Wii U have the option of using the Wii U Gamepad a.k.a The tablet controller" and the Wii U Pro controller a.k.a the "Xbox 360 looking controller" So game creaters can have the option of programing to use the regular controller. Instead of the Gampad tablet or Wiimote controllers.

Chill, he's just saying the game pad doesn't suit fighting games! They will probably work out a way to utilise it, but the best way will probably be with the optional pro game pad. So many people are calling for them to adapt the game to the pad but they should only do it if it ADDS to the gameplay, not just because it's there.

Wait,wait,wait....This is supposed to be a game developer right? A Huge part of being a game developer is to think outside the box and come up with a way to do things. Im not a developer and I can see how you can use an interactive screen in a game. Make buttons that are customizable or a faster way to do combos by swiping the screen or something. I really feel that the in the box thinking a lot of developers have will kill gaming eventually(see atari era games).

Oh yeah because having to pause the game and look at the combo list isn't bothersome at all. All I expected from Namco was the option to have a list of moves on the gamepad so I don't have to pause the game all the time, especially in multiplayer.

Motion controls and touch screens have a long way to go before they can be used for anything as complicated as fighting/strategy/fps games. Just look how long it took them to make controllers that didn't give me blisters.

No biggy, it is still the developer that will choose how they want to use the new controller's screen. Some developers I am sure will cancel out using the screen, those are the games that will benefit from the pro controller. It will work itself out, the alternatives are there.

I personally have played games since Atari was the "thing" and I could care less about a "tablet" style controller. Gaming is quite simple....It is the GAMES that make or break a system. Not the graphics, not the hardware, even the controller itself. If you do not have AAA 1st party games and a solid 3rd party support you will fail in this business. Nintendo has lived through so called "gimmicks" there entire existence. Look at just a few of what they have done.....the power glove, R.O.B., virtual boy, the rumble pak, bar code scanners, they had a dance pad for the NES. microphone, a buzzer for trivia games and the current gen....motion controls just to name a few. I do not understand why people do not realize that it is really Nintendo that has started almost everything that people expect in gaming today. We expect a rumble in our controllers, They did the Wii and everyone laughed and then what was the result?? Kinect and the move! Nintendo announces that they are going to have a tablet type controller...whats this??? Microsoft has a patent on a "tablet" style controller? I mean WTF??? REALLY? Most people do not know this but Nintendo started as a card company in the late 1800's. Nintendo deserves respect and they have earned the fan base that they have. I just hope that they get the 3rd party support that they really need to move on with the Wii U and in the future. I have all 3 current gen systems and have owned every single system since the Atari....EVERY single one of them. I am not a fanboy of any sort but I have grown through the years and have seen the good and bad. What people need to really focus on is enjoying great games no matter what system they are playing on!!!

Two screens on the 3DS. Even though they're less than an inch away from each other, I have no need to look at the bottom screen when playing SSFIV. The "buttons" are in the same position on the screen the entire time. When in doubt. "K.I.S.S." (Keep it Simple Stupid/Keep it Sweet & Simple).

I'm no fan of Nintendo these days, but the easy remedy for the distraction of the screen is to use an arcade stick instead, or simply on the developers to not be morons and kill it up with things you need to look at or touch.

this isn't bad or negative news the way some folks are taking it it's just news in general. he isn't saying fighting game's'll be a bad fit on the WiiU just that it'd be hard to make use of the 2nd screen in a fighting game. doesn't mean that other games can't make use of it

Having a second screen like that is bothersome for all types of games, not just fighting games. It's nothing more than a useless gimmick and I've been saying this since it was first announced.

The only use for this extra screen would be as a counter to split-screen. Even then I can see people (especially siblings) fighting over who gets to use the TV and who's made to use the smaller screen.

So we have one company actually refusing to use the touch screen for shortcuts and choosing to just use the gamepad/buttons instead. To be honest, I hope more companies follow this trend. I mean, sure, unique and innovative controllers may be nice, but, sometimes, a d-pad, sticks, and buttons are all you need.

I am not saying the Wii U will fail. It may out sell the the 720 and ps4. who knows. but have you EVER heard so many epic fail articles about a single system? only two tablets at a time, 3 hour battery life. you need buy a zillion extra contoerls and perrifphersls to get the full wii U experience. not good for fighting games, AS powerful as current gen consoles only. Using two tables halfs frames per second. It looks like a small white xbox. most casual gamers still have no idea what the Wii U even is. the list goes on and on and on. The Wii U is a marketing NIGHTMARE for Nintendo.

lets be real now nintendo after the snes has not been know for having fighting games i only own two on the wii & thats mash bros brawl & Tatsunoko vs. Capcom i can think of two for the gamecube. Pc has more fighting games

What? No, really. What? This is news? This is what you consider news? Wow. Just, wow. There was already a Tekken on the 3DS. It uses two screens. Perfectly fine. The 3DS actually has the strongest portable fighting game library. But suddenly, two screens are confusing. Just a note for your journalism career, blowing up small things for the sake of controversy is a most frowned upon practice.